Our Practitioners

Lauren O’Brien, L.Ac. is nationally certified with NCCAOM and holds state licensure in Pennsylvania and Delaware. She completed a B.S. in Community Health Education from the University of Arizona in 1997 and a four-year M.Sc. in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California in 2002. Her postgraduate internship was at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chengdu, China in 2003 where she focused on Orthopedics and OB/GYN. In 2004, Lauren moved to Hong Kong and continued learning about different traditional medicines, as she was able to travel extensively throughout Southeast Asia, China, Tibet, Nepal and India. She attended the Yoga Vidya Dham in Nasik, India to become a certified yoga instructor before returning to the United States.

Lauren founded South Philly Community Acupuncture in 2007 and is thrilled to see it thriving as she can offer affordable and comprehensive health care to her community. Although she enjoys treating a variety of common conditions, Lauren takes a special interest in pain management, emotional health and prenatal care. When not treating patients in the clinic, Lauren can be seen romping through the streets of Philly with her 5 sons and their beloved dog, Bob.

Justine Pileggi, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist proudly serving Philadelphia and its surrounding communities since 2016. Within her practice she skillfully utilizes modalities such as acupuncture, including trigger point and dry needling techniques, electrical stimulation, cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion. She is also happy to provide knowledgeable lifestyle, dietary, herbal, and supplement recommendations for optimal health cultivation. Justine has had the ability to gain much experience with treating a variety of health conditions, including musculoskeletal pain and injuries, digestive imbalances, fertility challenges, menstrual disorders, headaches, migraines, insomnia, and more. Working within the holistic health model, Justine always aims to treat the whole person, while also being supportive of an integrative medical approach. Believing wholeheartedly in the versatility of acupuncture as a safe and gentle yet impactful medicine, in its role in maintaining wellness, and in its profound ability to empower the body to heal more efficiently, she welcomes you to discover how acupuncture can help you!

Rebecca Katz L.Ac. is a dedicated acupuncture practitioner with firsthand experience navigating chronic health conditions since childhood. Her journey fuels a deep commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable healthcare environments. Endorsed by her instructors and supervisors for her exceptional intuition and sensitivity, Rebecca approaches each client with profound care, embodying the spirit of compassion and dedication to alleviating suffering and improving lives. Central to Rebecca's practice is trauma-informed care, mental health, emotional regulation, and addiction support. With training in acupuncture physical medicine, she treats chronic pain, musculoskeletal conditions, neurological disorders, GI issues, reproductive wellness, and more, offering versatile and compassionate healing solutions. Join her on a journey towards holistic well-being, where every individual's uniqueness is celebrated and supported. Healing Modalities Offered: Acupuncture, Cupping, Gua Sha

Laura Malandra, L.Ac. is a dedicated board-certified licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) with a passion for guiding individuals towards a balanced and happy life through preventative health practices. Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Laura has always been drawn to the principles of holistic health and preventative well-being. She completed her Master’s degree in Acupuncture at Won Institute of Graduate Studies. With her knowledge in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and 5 Element Acupuncture she treats a broad spectrum of physical and emotional health conditions. Laura offers comprehensive care for adults of all ages and genders, focusing on musculoskeletal issues, pain management, arthritis, migraines, sinus discomfort, digestive discomfort, PTSD, emotional well-being, addiction, as well as women’s health and menopause. Her approach is rooted in the belief that physical pain intertwines with emotional discomfort. She dedicates one-on-one time to each patient, tailoring her treatments because everyone's journey to well-being is uniquely their own. She may also incorporate modalities such as cupping, gua sha and e-stim to enhance well-being and restore body system function.  

Kimberly Cotterell, 200 HR RYT, Reiki II practitioner, compelled to empower others in the innate ability to heal themselves, created offerings in South Jersey since 2019. Kim has led various modalities such as meditation, yoga, breathwork, primal scream, energy work, ecstatic dance, and various workshop gatherings. Through their journey with intuitive energy work, Kim has embodied an offering of love and support to those that experience these gatherings. With mindfulness practices and compassionate acceptance, they hope to empower others in experiencing inner awareness and wellness.

Carly Brand, PTA, Myofascial Release Therapist An intuitive bodyworker/energetic healer certified in John Barnes Myofascial Release which works with the fascial system. Many years of physical therapy experience has all given her the understanding that the mind, body, and spirit are not separate. They must be treated as a whole so that your own body’s wisdom can allow healing to occur and bring one back to a more harmonious balanced state of being. Fascia is connective tissue that spreads throughout the entire body in a continuous three dimensional web. Trauma, posture, or inflammation can create a binding down of fascia resulting in excessive pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels, osseous structures and organs.

Nathan Dawley, LMT, weaves together his experience as a yoga and fitness instructor since 2009, and his time exploring movement as a dancer and martial artist, into a comprehensive perspective on human bodies. This informs his approach to assisting release and relaxation through bodywork and massage. Inspired and informed by the principles of Tai Chi and Contact Improvisation, Nathan Dawley uses a touch-sensitivity based approach combined with an emphasis on the concept of tensegrity in human beings: the interconnected structural dance between fascia, muscles, tendons and bones offers holistic perspective that informs his technique.

Richie Parrella is a Somatic Therapist, Certified yoga teacher, Reiki Master and sound healer trained in Prana yoga, based in the lineages of Kundalini and Tantra yoga and Ayurveda in the lineage of Dr. Vasant Lad. He facilitates sessions, classes, and groups with the intention to create a safe space for others to explore their inner experience, create transformation, as well as reduce stress, anxiety, and support the allowing of the body, mind, and spirit’s natural ability to heal. His teachings are rich in yogic philosophy, breath work and mindfulness.

Through his journey with Ayurveda, Yoga, Tantra, and Somatic therapy, he has come to learn that the body, mind and spirit are intrinsically connected, and must be treated as such, to achieve optimal health, and to support in self realization, and transformation.

Richie currently sees private clients over zoom, as well as in person in Princeton and Langhorne, PA. He leads gentle yoga classes, meditations, and sound healings. He is one of the co-creators of the Celebrate All People Organization. Additionally, he is an organizer with the non-profit organization Dance Medicine Philly. His life is given to supporting others in transformation to higher states of balance in nature and consciousness, where real freedom can be attained.